VICE PATRON
VICE CHANCELLORRear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara
VSV, USP, psc, MMaritimePol, BSc (DS)
Rear Admiral Kumara, appointed as the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University on 01st September 2023, who is a proud product of Kagalu Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle, joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet to the 6th Intake of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) on 06th October 1988 and successfully completed his basic degree in electrical engineering stream at KDA. He had his basic naval training at Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee, and he was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant on 05th October 1990.
Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara followed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course at NMA and Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialization Course at Indian Naval Ship Vendruthy, Kochi in India, and later he followed his Staff Course in China in 2005. Subsequently he was, selected to attend the Senior Naval Command Course at Naval Command College, Nanjing, China in 2015 and awarded with Post Graduate Diploma. Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara is also an alumnus of University of Wollongong, Australia, where was conferred with Master's Degree in Maritime Policy in 2018.
Prior to holding the appointment as the Director General Training of Sri Lanka Navy, he held appointments at various training establishments such as Training Commander at SLNS Shiksha; Training Commander SLNS Shilpa; Acting Training Commander; Deputy Training Commander; Coordinator for Junior Naval Staff College; the Commandant of the premier training institute of the Sri Lanka Navy, the Naval & Maritime Academy; and as Head of Training Team of Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka.
Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara has shown a tremendous professional growth throughout the years and an impressive dedication towards betterment of training of Sri Lanka Navy. Whilst shouldering the responsibilities as the Coordinator for Junior Naval Staff College, Rear Admiral Kumara performed a commendable service by standardizing the curriculum of the course, and he shouldered the sole responsibility of affiliating the Post Graduate Diploma to Junior Naval Staff Course. Further, he has made a significant contribution to affiliate KDU accredited degree programmes for Officer Under Trainees of Naval and Maritime Academy.
Moreover, due to his excellence in academics, he was appointed to present papers on Indian Ocean Naval Symposium 2013 on 'Challenges and Opportunities for Maritime Cooperation among Indian Ocean Region Navies' in Mumbai. Further, he presented a research paper at International Seminar on Naval Construction and Operation under Modern Conditions 2015 under the topic of 'Present Day Revolution in Military Affairs and Its Impacts on Naval Operation' in PR China, and Forum on the Future Seas 2015 under the topic of 'Indian Ocean Region and Way Ahead for Sri Lanka Navy' in PR China.
Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara was selected to conduct lectures at Bangladesh Command and Staff College, Mipoor on the topic of 'Counter Revolutionary Warfare and Sri Lankan Experience' in 2016 because of his expertise knowledge in Maritime Security. He represented Sri Lanka Navy in the Sea Power Conference 2022 in Australia. He is one of the principal authors of the first ever published 'Maritime Doctrine in Sri Lanka (MDSL)'. He is among the officers pioneered the concept of organizing first ever Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference in Sri Lanka in 2010.
During the 30 year long internal conflict of the country Rear Admiral Kumara fought valiantly at seas around the island whilst he was commanding Fast Gun Boats. In 2000, during the Nagarakovil Defences, the Naval Gun Fire Support, provided by the Navy under Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara's command to repulse the terrorist boats which were moving towards Nagarakovil, effectively and greatly assisted the Army in holding the ground. Further, he fought against LTTE sea tigers face to face whilst serving as the Officer in Command onboard Fast Attack Craft. Furthermore, he was appointed to Command Fast Missile Vessel SLNS Nandimithra and Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Samudura. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Commander Western Naval Area, Commandant Volunteer Naval Force and one of the Navy's most prestigious appointments: Commander Eastern Naval Area prior assuming duties as Vice Chancellor.
Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara is a decorated senior officer of Sri Lanka Navy. He has been awarded with Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya for his unblemished record of moral and military conduct, Utthama Seva Padakkama for valuable service and devotion to duty marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct and ten other Service Medals for his dedicated service to the motherland. Due to his professionalism and maintenance of loyalty, integrity throughout his career and with strong work ethics in all aspects of his work, he was able to hold the appointments as Flag Lieutenant to Commander of the Navy (CofN), Aide and Personal Secretary to the CofN and Naval Assistant to CofN for three different Navy Commanders.
He is a recipient of Commander of the Navy's Commendation Badge with 5 stars for six commendations received from five different Commanders of the Navy for his dedicated voluntary contribution and performances.
Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara married to Mrs. Inoka Weerakoon in 2003, and they are blessed with a daughter, Senethma Galamulage.